Legislator Rathhttp://www2.erie.gov/rath
enDecember 2016 Column - Legislature invests in campaign to finally bring ridesharing to Buffalohttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=december-2016-column-legislature-invests-campaign-finally-bring-ridesharing-buffalo
<p>During the Thanksgiving holiday a reported 43,000 people tried to access Uber&rsquo;s app across Upstate New York, not realizing that ridesharing was still illegal here. As a depended upon service across the world, it is surprising that much of NYS is without ridesharing. It is my hope that at the next session, the New York State Legislature finally acts on the bills needed to allow ridesharing. The governor is already on record in support of legalizing ridesharing but we have several hurdles to clear before it is allowed.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=december-2016-column-legislature-invests-campaign-finally-bring-ridesharing-buffalo" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:46:48 +0000oneilj268 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathLegislator Rath announces completion of Swift Mills Road Bridge construction http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-announces-completion-swift-mills-road-bridge-construction
<p>Erie County Legislator Edward Rath is pleased to announce that Swift Mills Road Bridge, in the Town of Newstead, has finally reopened after being closed for four years.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-announces-completion-swift-mills-road-bridge-construction" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Wed, 16 Nov 2016 19:16:32 +0000oneilj267 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathLegislator Rath presents donation to Newstead Library, thanks community for supporthttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-presents-donation-newstead-library-thanks-community-support-0
<p>Erie County Legislator Edward Rath, III announces that the Hot Dog Roast Fundraiser held this past summer raised $450 for the Newstead Public Library to support programming and materials. A presentation was held Oct. 28 at the library to announce the fundraising total. Library Director Kristine Sutton accepted the donation and was joined by Newstead Town Board Member John Jendrowski.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-presents-donation-newstead-library-thanks-community-support-0" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:44:50 +0000oneilj266 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathNovember 2016 Column - ECIDA’s role isn’t to be a landlord, focus needs to stay on business developmenthttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=november-2016-column-ecida%E2%80%99s-role-isn%E2%80%99t-be-landlord-focus-needs-stay-business-development
<p>For the past few years, some members of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency have been far too interested in overreaching policies, diverging from the central mission of the ECIDA. Several ECIDA board members and I have even begun referring to these misdirected proposals as &ldquo;mission-creep.&rdquo;</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=november-2016-column-ecida%E2%80%99s-role-isn%E2%80%99t-be-landlord-focus-needs-stay-business-development" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:58:57 +0000oneilj265 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathOctober 2016 Column - Without snowplow contract, drivers at serious risk - towns and county must agree to terms sooner than laterhttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=october-2016-column-without-snowplow-contract-drivers-serious-risk-towns-and-county-must-agree-terms
<p>After the summer we have had, I hate to do it, but I need to report on snow in this month&rsquo;s column. More so, the snowplow contract between towns and the county to ensure that all county roads are plowed efficiently during winter. For many years now, towns have been paid by the county to plow county roads using town equipment. Due to the extensive number of lane miles the county is responsible for, it would be impossible to keep all county roadways clear during snowfall. This agreement, although not without issues, has worked well in the past.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=october-2016-column-without-snowplow-contract-drivers-serious-risk-towns-and-county-must-agree-terms" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:50:54 +0000oneilj264 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathLegislator Rath partners with Rite-Aid for Community Flu Clinichttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-partners-rite-aid-community-flu-clinic
<p>Legislator Edward Rath is partnering with local Rite-Aid Pharmacy locations to offer a Community Flu Clinic to residents who wish to vaccinate against influenza. Each year, the County Department of Health advises residents to get a flu vaccine. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-partners-rite-aid-community-flu-clinic" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:54:31 +0000oneilj263 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathLegislators Dixon and Rath join the Walk to End Alzheimer’shttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislators-dixon-and-rath-join-walk-end-alzheimer%E2%80%99s
<p>Erie County Legislators Lynne Dixon and Edward Rath attended Saturday&rsquo;s Walk to End Alzheimer&rsquo;s at Delaware Park, honoring the Alzheimer&rsquo;s Association of WNY and all involved with fighting this terrible disease. On behalf of the Erie County Legislature, Legislators Dixon and Rath presented WNY Chapter Executive Director Leilani Pelletier with a proclamation at the walk.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislators-dixon-and-rath-join-walk-end-alzheimer%E2%80%99s" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Mon, 19 Sep 2016 15:56:39 +0000oneilj262 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathSeptember 2016 Column - Issues with county roadways go much deeper than potholeshttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=september-2016-column-issues-county-roadways-go-much-deeper-potholes
<p>On June 28 we learned that New York State was providing towns and counties with state funding for roads through PAVE NY. I may not agree with our Governor often, but I agree with him on this issue when he stated in his announcement: &ldquo;PAVE NY funds strategic investments in local roadways, helping ensure roadways across the state are in good repair, remain reliable for motorists and able to help foster regional economic growth for years to come.&rdquo; In Erie County we must prioritize our investment in our infrastructure. It is the foundation of everything else we do in this community.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=september-2016-column-issues-county-roadways-go-much-deeper-potholes" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Wed, 07 Sep 2016 13:13:01 +0000oneilj261 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathLegislator Rath announces free rabies clinic scheduled for Sept. 14 at ECC Northhttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-announces-free-rabies-clinic-scheduled-sept-14-ecc-north
<p>Erie County Legislator Edward Rath encourages pet owners to attend the County&rsquo;s upcoming free rabies clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets especially as the county is facing an outbreak.</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=legislator-rath-announces-free-rabies-clinic-scheduled-sept-14-ecc-north" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:42:48 +0000oneilj260 at http://www2.erie.gov/rathAugust 2016 Column - Legislature holds hearings focusing on emergency services, ability to respond to callshttp://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=august-2016-column-legislature-holds-hearings-focusing-emergency-services-ability-respond-calls
<p>During the past month The Erie County Legislature called two important informational hearings to look into how our region responds to emergencies. As the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee I thought it was critically important to focus on these issues.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www2.erie.gov/rath/index.php?q=august-2016-column-legislature-holds-hearings-focusing-emergency-services-ability-respond-calls" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:32:00 +0000oneilj259 at http://www2.erie.gov/rath